Beukes Physiotherapy

New Team member alert🎉🎉🎉

Please feel free to make your Physiotherapy appointment!! (No referrals needed)

Marilie Crous - 078 423 3524

Beukes Physiotherapy Dian Beukes Tenicke Beukes

JOIN US AT A SPECIAL WOMEN’S EVENT!

🤰🏼🩱👐🏻

Physiotherapist in and around Bloem - Here is a wonderful opportunity for CPD points at a reasonable price AND it is hosted locally. Please feel free to contact me 👐🏻👐🏻👐🏻

The practice will re-open Monday 8 January 2024👐🏻
Feel free to make your appointment.
Dian Beukes 084 210 0624
Tenicke Beukes 078 255 0447
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Dian Beukes

👨‍💼The male pelvic floor👨‍💼

So much fuss is made about the pelvic floor in women, but what about in men?

👨‍💼What are the symptoms of a weak pelvic floor in men?👨‍💼

⭕️Failing to reach the toilet in time.
⭕️Leaking urine with activity, for example, during running, jumping, coughing and sneezing
⭕️A sudden and urgent need to pass urine
⭕️Leakage of stool
⭕️Erectile dysfunction (the pelvic floor helps you to maintain er****ons)

👨‍💼What can lead to a weakened pelvic floor in males?

✴️Prostate surgery
✴️Long term cough
✴️Constipation/straining to empty your bowels
✴️Being overweight
✴️Pelvic trauma or pelvic surgery
✴️Repeated heavy lifting.

👨‍💼 How can men exercise their pelvic floor muscles👨‍💼

Your pelvic floor muscles can be strengthened like any other weak or damaged muscles. They need to be regularly exercised for optimal function by doing Kegels.

The EMSELLA chair is the only brand of chair of this type that has been scientifically proven in studies to be highly effective in strengthening the pelvic floor muscles, helping to improve muscle tone and control. Perfect for men and women. The treatment consists of a few sessions, is painless and is done entirely clothed by sitting on the chair. At the same time, it uses high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology to stimulate the pelvic floor muscles. A single session of 28 minutes results in around 11200 contractions of the pelvic floor, which would be the same amount of Kegels you would have to have done for the same effect. In Bloemfontein, you’ll find one at NB Aesthetic Gynaecology.

👨‍💼How are male kegels done?👨‍💼

1. Sit, stand or lie comfortably with your knees slightly apart.
2. Imagine you are trying to stop yourself from passing wind at the same time as if you are trying to stop passing urine; slowly squeeze and lift the muscles. You may feel the base of your p***s move slightly up towards your abdomen.
3. A feeling of gentle tightening in your lower abdomen is normal. Try to avoid pulling in your stomach, squeezing your legs together, tightening your buttocks or holding your breath. This will help to ensure that only your pelvic floor muscles are working.

👨‍💼What is Erectile Dysfunction?👨‍💼

Erectile dysfunction is trouble getting or keeping an er****on that's firm enough for s*x.

👨‍💼When does erectile dysfunction happen?👨‍💼

⚛️Most often, when blood flow in the p***s is limited, or nerves are harmed
⚛️With stress or emotional reason
⚛️Certain medications like antidepressants, etc.
⚛️As an early warning of a more serious illness, like atherosclerosis (hardening or blocked arteries), heart disease, high blood pressure or high blood sugar from Diabetes

👨‍💼How is erectile dysfunction treated?👨‍💼

Non-invasive treatments are often tried first. Most of the best-known treatments for ED work well and are safe, BUT ask your healthcare provider for guidance.

✅Managing the cause
✅Oral drugs
✅Testosterone Therapy (when low testosterone is detected in blood testing)
✅Penile Injections
✅Intraurethral medication
✅Vacuum Er****on Devices (Vacurect SA) - contact Dian Beukes at 084 210 0624 to get more information about the Vacurect and if you want to purchase one.
✅Penile Implants
✅Surgery to bypass pe**le artery damage for some younger men with a history of severe pelvic trauma.
✅Penile vascular surgery is not recommended for older men with hardened arteries.

Thank you to Dian Beukes from Beukes Physiotherapy in Bloemfontein for assisting me with this post. Contact him at 084 210 0624 (available on Whatsapp as well) to make an appointment.

Pic by Kira auf der Heide on Unsplash

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👩‍👧How can a physiotherapist help after birth?👩‍👧

👩‍👧Which physiotherapy treatments you can request in the hospital after birth?👩‍👧

✳️Circulation exercises
✳️Mobility - assisting with getting in and out of bed while protecting your wound or assisting you pelvic floor
✳️Education - giving relevant information (eg. Breastfeeding, exercise etc)
✳️Pelvic floor muscles and deep core muscle activation
✳️Breathing exercises
✳️Laser treatment for c-section wounds, cracked ni***es and engorged breasts.
✳️Emotional support - you may need a shoulder to cry on if you want to.
✳️Pain management - massage and/or TENS
✳️Assisting going to the toilet for the first time
✳️Treatment of post operative shoulder pain

👩‍👧What are the benefits of exercise during the postpartum period?👩‍👧

🚹Helps to strengthen and tone muscles
🚹Decreases the need of pain relief
🚹Better recovery after birth
🚹Improves circulation
🚹Helps with weight loss
🚹Decreases the risk for blood clots
🚹More restful sleep - more energy
🚹Helps to prevent postpartum depression
🚹It is a stress reliever
🚹Improves digestion
🚹Lowers the risk for respiratory infections
🚹Improves posture

👩‍👧What is the role of Physiotherapy during the postpartum period?👩‍👧

✅Pelvic floor rehabilitation - biofeedback, mobility and strengthening
✅Educating patient about postpartum care
✅Exercise rehabilitation - guided strengthening program, advice and support.
✅Improving Abdomino pelvic synergy/breath work
✅Helping patients with breastfeeding
✅Treating Diastasis re**us abdominis
✅Treating patient with respiratory problems post operatively.
✅Treating patients with pain/discomfort - low back pain, pelvic girdle pain etc.
✅Postpartum massage techniques and scar management
✅Intimacy rehabilitation - education and support, dilator therapy (can include partner)
✅Assistance in Return to sport and hobbies

👩‍👧What is Diastasis re**us abdominis?👩‍👧

This a condition where an abnormal distance separates the two re**us muscles(tummy muscles). This separation is palpable and is 2 or more fingerbreadts either 4.5cm above, at, or 4.5cm below the navel(umbilicus).

👩‍👧How can a physiotherapist help in Diastasis re**us abdominis?👩‍👧

🔰DRA rehabilitation
🔰Discussions between patient and therapist’s expectations
🔰Looking at functionality
🔰 Patients look at aesthetics (discussing this)
🔰 There is NO correlation between what it “looks like” and “how well it works”

👩‍👧What increases the risk of perineal tearing or episiotomy during birth?👩‍👧

♻️Maternal age
♻️Induction of labour
♻️Never given birth before
♻️A big baby
♻️Abnormal baby lying position - baby’s head is down but facing the mothers front instead of the back
♻️Instrumental delivery like a forceps or suction delivery.

👩‍👧How can a pelvic phyiotherapist help with treatment for perineal tears/epiosiotomy?👩‍👧

❇️Scar management
❇️Sitz bath explanation - pain relief and encouraging healing
❇️Ice and laser treatment to reduce pain and inflammation
❇️Advice regarding wound care, movement and posture and kinetic handling
❇️Education regarding toilet habits
❇️Defaecation pattern - perineal support
❇️Deep breathing exercises - breathing into the pelvis

👩‍👧How soon can you start exercising postpartum?👩‍👧

You can start immediately under the guidance of a qualified pelvic health physiotherapist and your doctor.

👩‍👧How soon postpartum can you have s*x?👩‍👧

Usually 6 weeks postpartum BUT you health care provider needs to give you the GREEN light first after your 6-week follow-up appointment.

👩‍👧How can the EMSELLA chair be useful post partum?👩‍👧

The EMSELLA chair is the only brand of chair of this type that has been scientifically proven in studies to be highly effective in strengthening the pelvic floor muscles, helping to improve muscle tone and control. The treatment consists of a few sessions, is painless and is done entirely clothed by sitting on the chair. At the same time, it uses high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology to stimulate the pelvic floor muscles. A single session of 28 minutes results in around 11200 contractions of the pelvic floor, which would be the same amount of Kegels you would have to have done for the same effect. In Bloemfontein, you’ll find one at NB Aesthetic Gynaecology.

Thank you to Tenicke Beukes from Beukes Physiotherapy in Bloemfontein for assisting me with this post. Contact her at 0510010580 or 0782550447 (available on Whatsapp as well) to make an appointment. She is a specialised pelvic floor physiotherapist.

Pic by Dakota Corbin on Unsplash

Make your appointment now👐🏻👐🏻

🤸🏻‍♀️What is a pelvic floor physio, and why should you see one?🤸🏻‍♀️

This a medical professional every woman (and even a few men!) should have on sp*ed dial; however, few of us know who they are and what they do!

🤸🏻‍♀️What is the pelvic floor?🤸🏻‍♀️

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and connective tissues that form a supportive hammock-like structure at the bottom of the pelvis, providing support for the pelvic organs, including the bladder, uterus (in women), and re**um.

🤸🏻‍♀️What does a pelvic floor physiotherapist do?🤸🏻‍♀️

A pelvic floor physiotherapist is a specialised healthcare professional who focuses on assessing and treating conditions related to the pelvic floor muscles. Not all physiotherapists are specialised in this area.
What does a session with a pelvic floor physiotherapist entail?

The physiotherapist will first consult you by doing a proper history and asking questions about your general and pelvic health. Then, they will do an external and Internal examination.

Treatments that they may do include:
🌀Exercises and stretches
🌀Manual therapy and massage
🌀Biofeedback therapy
🌀Electric stimulation to strengthen and relax the pelvic floor

Every session is individualised, and the patient is treated according to their pelvic health needs.

🤸🏻‍♀️Why should you see a pelvic floor physiotherapist?🤸🏻‍♀️

Pelvic health physiotherapists can treat the following:

✅Lower urinary tract symptoms like incontinence (leaking urine), urgency and frequency (having to run to the bathroom frequently), and incomplete bladder emptying.
✅Vaginal Symptoms like pelvic organ prolapse
✅Bowel Symptoms like constipation, obstructive defecation (difficulty passing p**p), faecal incontinence (leaking p**p) or anal/rectal prolapse.
✅Pain like chronic pelvic pain, pelvic pain syndrome, endometriosis, low back pain, musculoskeletal symptoms
✅S*xual dysfunction like dyspareunia/vaginismus (painful s*x), or****ic dysfunction.
✅Pregnancy and Postpartum Care, like managing pelvic pain and discomfort and preparing for childbirth. They also help women recover from pregnancy and childbirth, addressing issues such as perineal tears, abdominal separation (diastasis recti), and pelvic floor weakness.
✅Pre- and Post-Surgery Rehabilitation when having surgeries involving the pelvic area, such as prostate surgery in men or gynaecological surgeries in women.

🤸🏻‍♀️Is pelvic floor physical therapy painful?🤸🏻‍♀️

You might experience slight pressure/discomfort during the pelvic examination. If you experience pain - you must inform the therapist immediately.

Remember, they have seen many patients with the same issues as you, so don’t be shy. Be confident about doing something for yourself.

Thank you to Tenicke Beukes from Beukes Physiotherapy in Bloemfontein for assisting me with this post. Contact her at 0510010580 or 0782550447 (available on Whatsapp as well) to make an appointment. She is a specialised pelvic floor physiotherapist.

💦💦💦

💦Female urinary incontinence (leakage of urine)💦

Many women, especially those with kids, know they must cross their legs if they have a sudden cough or sneeze; otherwise, there might be some leakage. Others have to run to the bathroom every few minutes.

💦What is urinary incontinence?💦

Urinary incontinence is the involuntary leakage of urine. It doesn’t necessarily mean a lot of urine; it may be a few drops, or it may be substantial.

💦What are the stats?💦

It is estimated that about 50% of adult women experience urinary incontinence, and only about 25% of those seek help for it. Women from as early as the age of 20 years can experience it, but it becomes more common the older you get.

💦Why do women not seek help?💦

Some are way too embarrassed to tell anyone; others may not know that there is help out there, or some are just too scared that they may need surgery. Some are just too busy being a wife, mother or family member to worry about themselves.

💦Why is it such a big deal?💦

Urinary incontinence has a significant impact on a woman’s quality of life. It is associated with depression and anxiety. Women often prefer not to go out or avoid certain social situations.

Some women leak urine while having s*x, and it may be so embarrassing to them that they fear it happening, and it leads them not to enjoy s*x anymore.

💦What are the types of Urinary incontinence?💦

There are 4 types of urinary incontinence:
Stress Incontinence
Urgency Incontinence
Overflow incontinence
Mixed incontinence

🤧Stress urinary incontinence🤧

This is when you involuntarily leak urine when there is an increase in pressure in your abdomen, like when you sneeze, cough, laugh or pick up something heavy. It is the most common type. This may be due to poor support from your pelvic floor.

🚨Urgency urinary incontinence🚨

This is when you have the urge or the feeling that you want to p*e, but you don’t get to the toilet fast enough. You might leak just a few drops of urine or a lot. Someone might have told you that you have an overactive bladder. Older women experience this more often. This may be due to your bladder muscles contracting spontaneously.

🫗Overflow urinary incontinence🫗

This is when urine leaks because the bladder didn’t empty properly when you went to the bathroom earlier; this occurs without a warning. It may happen when you change position or with activity. Often, these women have a weak urine stream, running to the bathroom a lot and waking up to p*e at night. This usually happens due to the bladder muscles not contracting effectively.

💧Mixed urinary incontinence💧

This is where there is a mixture of the types of incontinence.

💦Who is at a higher risk of developing urinary incontinence?💦

💠The older you are, the higher chance you are to experience it.
💠Being overweight
💠Having had babies, especially va**nal births. Women who have had c-sections also get urinary incontinence, but they are at a lower risk.
💠Someone in your family suffers from it,
💠Menopause due to low estrogen levels.
💠Previous radiation in the pelvic area for cancer
💠Certain illnesses like diabetes, stroke, etc.
💠Participation in high-impact exercise like jumping, running, CrossFit, weightlifting.
💠A study has shown that women who consume artificial sweeteners have a higher risk.
💠Urinary tract infections can present with the symptoms of incontinence
💠Excessive alcohol or caffeine use.

💦What about pregnancy and delivery?💦

Pregnancy and delivery can contribute to pelvic floor injury due to the stretching, compression and tearing of nerve, muscle and connective tissues in the pelvic area.

Having had one child or more increases your risk for urinary incontinence, increasing with the more babies you have had.

🤰🏻Pregnancy🤰🏻

Urinary incontinence is common in pregnancy due to the increased pressure of the baby on the pelvic floor. It usually starts in the second trimester and increases in the third trimester. This may resolve after pregnancy, but unfortunately for others, it may persist.

👶🏻Delivery👶🏻

Women that have had a va**nal birth are at higher risk of developing urinary incontinence, but having a c-section doesn’t prevent it.

Women who have had instrument deliveries, including with the help of forceps, are at a higher risk. Vacuum deliveries do not increase the risk.

Women that have birthed bigger babies va**nally might also be at a higher risk.

💦What does not prevent urinary incontinence?💦

Several studies have not shown any benefit in avoiding prolonged labour or coaching the mom in pushing during delivery. Perineal massage during labour and the maternal position has not been studied enough to show effect.

💦Where do I start if I want to get it treated?💦

The best is to start with seeing a gynaecologist. They will do a complete history and examination. They might also do a urine test to make sure you don’t have an infection.

💦What can you do to treat urinary incontinence?💦

Once a gynaecologist has seen you and excluded other medical factors and medications contributing to your incontinence, they will treat you stepwise. Specific treatment will depend on the type of incontinence you suffer from.

1️⃣First, the doctor will recommend changing some lifestyle factors. These include:

✅Weight loss
✅Fluid restriction, especially of alcohol, caffeine and carbonated beverages. Rather, drink small amounts of water frequently than large amounts at one time.
✅Prevent and treat constipation
✅Stop smoking

2️⃣Strengthening the pelvic floor will be next on the list and includes measures such as:

✅Pelvic floor exercises – also known as Kegel exercises. Do 3 sets of 8-12 contractions, holding each for 8-10 seconds. This should be done 3 times a day. This should be done every day for 4-6 months.
✅Seeing a pelvic floor physiotherapist can help with other therapies to strengthen the pelvic floor.
✅EMSELLA chair – The EMSELLA chair is the only brand of chair of this type that has been scientifically proven in studies to be highly effective in strengthening the pelvic floor muscles, helping to improve muscle tone and control. The treatment consists of a few sessions, is painless and is done entirely clothed by sitting on the chair. At the same time, it uses high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology to stimulate the pelvic floor muscles. A single session of 28 minutes results in around 11200 contractions of the pelvic floor, which would be the same amount of Kegels you would have to have done for the same effect.

3️⃣They might then consider medications:

✅A topical va**nal estrogen if you are menopausal or around the age, as the va**nal dryness can worsen the incontinence.
✅Other oral medications will be decided on after history and examination.

4️⃣Lastly, they might consider surgery.

Post compiled from UpToDate.

Thank you to Dr. Nadia van der Westhuizen and Dr. Bianca van Wyngaard fNB Aesthetic Gynaecologylogy for reviewing this post. They are both fierce women, amazing mothers, caring doctors and skilled gynaecologists you can trust with your female health. Contact them at 051 110 0365 for more information on their practice and treatment modalities. They also have the EMSELLA chair for treatment of urinary incontinence.

Pic by Oz Sayrek on Unsplash

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🤸🏻‍♀️How do I take care of my pelvic floor?🤸🏻‍♀️

It’s time to look after your pelvic floor!

🤸🏻‍♀️What do your pelvic floor muscles do?🤸🏻‍♀️

❇️Supports your bladder, urethra, va**na, uterus, bowel, re**um and a**s.
❇️Relax and squeeze to control when you p*e, p**p or pass gas.
❇️During childbirth the pelvic floor supports va**nal delivery.
❇️Helps with va**nal contraction and blood flow during s*x and or**sm.

🤸🏻‍♀️What does a healthy pelvic floor look like?🤸🏻‍♀️

A Healthy pelvic floor allows you to squeeze and relax automatically. You can also control these muscles intentionally, just like bending and straightening your arm.

🤸🏻‍♀️What causes your pelvic floor to not work well?🤸🏻‍♀️

⚠️Childbirth (va**nal delivery and cesarean)
⚠️Trauma to the pelvic region
⚠️ Pelvic surgery
⚠️ Obesity
⚠️Increased pressure in the abdomen and pelvis, such as a chronic coughing
⚠️Radiation treatment that can lead to nerve damage
⚠️ Advancing age

🤸🏻‍♀️What will your symptoms be if your pelvic floor isn’t working well? 🤸🏻‍♀️

🚫 Constipation or straining with a bowel movement
🚫 Urgency to urinate, leaking urine or painful urination
🚫 Low back pain
🚫 Pain in the pelvic area, ge****ls or the re**um
🚫 Pressure in pelvic area or the re**um
🚫 Pain or discomfort during s*xual in*******se
🚫 Muscle spasms in the pelvis

🤸🏻‍♀️What you can do to improve your pelvic floor muscle strength?🤸🏻‍♀️

✅Start wirh visiting your Gynecologist for a thorough history and examination to make sure that everything downstairs is in order.
– the Doctor might suggest the Emsella chair.
✅You can consult a Pelvic health Physiotherapist – You do not need a doctors referral to see a physiotherapist. The physiotherapist will do an evaluation and give appropriate exercises for your concerns. Read more on pelvic floor physiotherapists here: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=879453920417795&id=100050595844490&mibextid=cr9u03
✅ The EMSELLA chair is the only brand of chair of this type that has been scientifically proven in studies to be highly effective in strengthening the pelvic floor muscles, helping to improve muscle tone and control. The treatment consists of a few sessions, is painless and is done entirely clothed by sitting on the chair. At the same time, it uses high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology to stimulate the pelvic floor muscles. A single session of 28 minutes results in around 11200 contractions of the pelvic floor, which would be the same amount of Kegels you would have to have done for the same effect. In Bloemfontein, you’ll find one at NB Aesthetic Gynaecology
✅Consulting a dietitian for a diet for weight loss when overweight.

🤸🏻‍♀️ What about Kegels?🤸🏻‍♀️

You might have heard about Kegel exercises BUT what is it really and why would you want to do them?

Kegel exercises are there to strengthen your “CORE” or as you might know it “your downstairs” ;Your core consists of pelvic floor muscles, your abdominal muscles, your back muscles, and your diaphragm.

Kegel exercises goes something like this:
1. Tighten your pelvic floor muscles (the same muscles you would use to stop a p*e while sitting on the toilet. Hold tight and count 3 to 5 seconds.
2. Relax the muscles and count 3 to 5 seconds.
3. Repeat 10 times, 3 times a day (morning, afternoon, and night).

🤸🏻‍♀️Are you sure that you are tightening and relaxing the correct muscles? 🤸🏻‍♀️

If you are unsure it is not a bad idea to consult a professional, especially if you are struggling with any of the pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms. Doing Kegel exercises correctly will be very beneficial in preventing pelvic floor dysfunction. You do not have to wait for any pelvic floor symptoms before starting your pelvic floor exercises – NOW is the best time.

Thank you to Tenicke Beukes from Beukes Physiotherapy in Bloemfontein for assisting me withe this post. Contact her at 0510010580 or 0782550447 (available on Whatsapp as well) to make an appointment. She is a specialised pelvic floor physiotherapist.

Pic by Wren Meinberg on Unsplash.

👐🏻👐🏻👐🏻

🔐Vaginismus (Genito-pelvic pain/pe*******on disorder)🔐

S*x should not hurt. Again, louder for those at the back. S*x should not hurt.

🔐What is vaginismus?🔐

Vaginismus is a condition where the muscles around the opening of the va**na, tighten up. This usually occurs when something is to be inserted in the va**na, including a medical device, tampon or during penetrative in*******se. It causes pain.

🔐When does this happen?🔐

This may happen when you are worried about internal exams or s*x. Your muscles around or inside the va**nal opening may contract due to this fear. It may occur if you have had a bad experience with either of these in the past, so you become worried or anxious about the pe*******on that will occur.

It becomes a viscous cycle, where you become scared of the pe*******on, which worsens the pain, which again causes more fear.

Sometimes infections or other medical conditions in the va**na can worsen it.

If there is va**nal dryness during breastfeeding or even in menopause, pe*******on can be painful. Read more here: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=668441404852382&id=100050595844490&mibextid=qC1gEa

In some cases there is no obvious cause or reason for it.

🔐What are the symptoms?🔐

The main symptom is pain when something is inserted in the va**na, including during s*x (also called dyspareunia). This causes a fear of the pe*******on later again.

🔐When should you see your doctor?🔐

If you experience pain when inserting a tampon, or during s*x, please see your gynaecologist.

🔐How is vaginismus treated?🔐

Your doctor will take a full history and do an examination to try and find causes for you pain.

It needs to be stressed, that there is a huge psychological element to vaginismus, as the fear of pe*******on, worsens the condition. Often just a few treatments in your treatment plan is needed, to relax you and remove the fear element.

A pelvic floor physiotherapist to help relax the tight muscles around the va**na.

Special devices like dilators can be suggested by your pelvic floor physiotherapist and gynaecologist to stretch the opening of the va**na.

If you have va**nal dryness or thinning, especially during menopause or breastfeeding, a va**nal estrogen cream can help.

At NB Aesthetic Gynaecology, Dr. Nadia or Dr. Bianca can doNB Aesthetic Gynaecologyly known by the brand Botox) injections in the muscles around the va**nal opening and deeper if needed.

The intimate shot (also known as the O-shot) can also be given NB Aesthetic Gynaecology. This is where they draw a smaNB Aesthetic Gynaecology it off and extract the platelet-rich-plasma. They then inject this in areas of the va**na which increases blood flow to area and healing.

The most important first step is to get help. Be assertive and seek help!

Thank you to Dr. Nadia van der Westhuizen and Dr. Bianca van Wyngaard from NB Aesthetic Gynaecology for reviewing this post. They aNB Aesthetic Gynaecologyazing mothers, caring doctors and skilled gynaecologists you can trust with your female health. Contact them at 051 110 0365 for more information on their practice and treatment modalities.

Pic by Deon Black on Unsplash

Dian Beukes Tenicke Beukes

🤸🏻‍♀️What is a pelvic floor physio, and why should you see one?🤸🏻‍♀️

This a medical professional every woman (and even a few men!) should have on sp*ed dial; however, few of us know who they are and what they do!

🤸🏻‍♀️What is the pelvic floor?🤸🏻‍♀️

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and connective tissues that form a supportive hammock-like structure at the bottom of the pelvis, providing support for the pelvic organs, including the bladder, uterus (in women), and re**um.

🤸🏻‍♀️What does a pelvic floor physiotherapist do?🤸🏻‍♀️

A pelvic floor physiotherapist is a specialised healthcare professional who focuses on assessing and treating conditions related to the pelvic floor muscles. Not all physiotherapists are specialised in this area.
What does a session with a pelvic floor physiotherapist entail?

The physiotherapist will first consult you by doing a proper history and asking questions about your general and pelvic health. Then, they will do an external and Internal examination.

Treatments that they may do include:
🌀Exercises and stretches
🌀Manual therapy and massage
🌀Biofeedback therapy
🌀Electric stimulation to strengthen and relax the pelvic floor

Every session is individualised, and the patient is treated according to their pelvic health needs.

🤸🏻‍♀️Why should you see a pelvic floor physiotherapist?🤸🏻‍♀️

Pelvic health physiotherapists can treat the following:

✅Lower urinary tract symptoms like incontinence (leaking urine), urgency and frequency (having to run to the bathroom frequently), and incomplete bladder emptying.
✅Vaginal Symptoms like pelvic organ prolapse
✅Bowel Symptoms like constipation, obstructive defecation (difficulty passing p**p), faecal incontinence (leaking p**p) or anal/rectal prolapse.
✅Pain like chronic pelvic pain, pelvic pain syndrome, endometriosis, low back pain, musculoskeletal symptoms
✅S*xual dysfunction like dyspareunia/vaginismus (painful s*x), or****ic dysfunction.
✅Pregnancy and Postpartum Care, like managing pelvic pain and discomfort and preparing for childbirth. They also help women recover from pregnancy and childbirth, addressing issues such as perineal tears, abdominal separation (diastasis recti), and pelvic floor weakness.
✅Pre- and Post-Surgery Rehabilitation when having surgeries involving the pelvic area, such as prostate surgery in men or gynaecological surgeries in women.

🤸🏻‍♀️Is pelvic floor physical therapy painful?🤸🏻‍♀️

You might experience slight pressure/discomfort during the pelvic examination. If you experience pain - you must inform the therapist immediately.

Remember, they have seen many patients with the same issues as you, so don’t be shy. Be confident about doing something for yourself.

Thank you to Tenicke Beukes from Beukes Physiotherapy in Bloemfontein for assisting me with this post. Contact her at 0510010580 or 0782550447 (available on Whatsapp as well) to make an appointment. She is a specialised pelvic floor physiotherapist.

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🎄🎁😊👐🏻🙌🏻

🎄🎁🎊👐🏻

Happy World Physiotherapy day👐🏻

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you Marike Riekert

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Wonderful news🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

EmoyaMed is pleased to announce that,
Discovery Health Medical Aid has granted EmoyaMed Private Hospital full funding for the hospitalization, surgery and treatment of Discovery Health Medical Aid patients.

Effective from 1 August 2022.

Situated at 7 Frans Kleynhans Rd, Bloemfontein

Tel: 051 011 4040
Email: [email protected]

http://www.xhealth.co.za/hospitals/emoyamed/